STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator WHITEAKER (Western Australia) (13:32): Happy 1 July, a very important day, and never has the choice been clearer for the Australian people than it is today. Labor is cutting taxes for every Australian taxpayer from today. We're helping workers earn more and keep more of what they earn—backing higher wages, making medicines cheaper, building a stronger Medicare and giving more help to first home buyers.

But what's the offering from the Liberals, the Nationals and One Nation? Well, it's pretty clear. The Liberal Party went to the last election with a plan for higher taxes.

They said to working Australians, 'If we win government, you will pay more.' The Australian people gave them their answer; they rejected it. They continue to reject it. But today every single taxpayer receives a tax cut thanks to Labor—and it's another tax cut because we've delivered a number of tax cuts in previous years as well.

It means more money in Australians pockets, more help for people trying to save for the future and to get by. This is, of course, happening alongside a pay rise for three million workers on minimum and award wages. Together, lower taxes and higher wages mean real cost-of-living relief for Australians.

That is what Labor is delivering. What does the Liberal Party think of that? Well, Senator Hume told us earlier in the week when she called our tax cuts 'egregious'—not once, but twice.

Senator Hume: Tax hikes! Senator WHITEAKER: She said our tax cuts—I've seen the transcript—were egregious not once but twice. Senator McDonald: What a lie!

Senator WHITEAKER: It's not a lie; go and read the transcript! But Labor says it is not egregious; it is practical cost-of-living relief that we are delivering for Australian taxpayers. What's really clear is the Australian people are not buying what the Liberal Party are selling them.